Columbus Blue Jackets tickets give the holder a chance to see one of the better up-and-coming teams in the NHL. Coming off a hard-fought playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins last season in which Columbus notched their first postseason wins in franchise history, the club’s future looks bright. With all that in mind, here are five reasons to buy Blue Jackets tickets this year…

Sergei Bobrovsky in goal

“Bob,” as he’s affectionately known to the Blue Jackets faithful, is only a year removed from winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender. He’s just 25 years old and has posted save percentages of .932 and .923 in his last two full seasons; there aren’t many other clubs around the league that can boast that type of goaltending skill. Blue Jackets tickets are a great way to see one of the league’s top goalies in action.

Nationwide Arena

First opened in 2000 when the Blue Jackets played their inaugural season, Nationwide Arena seats approximately 19,000 for home games and is one of the NHL’s newer arenas. The venue has excellent sightlines and more modern amenities than the bulk of the other arenas in operation around the league. Taking in a game at Nationwide Arena is a must for all NHL fans, regardless of team affiliation.

Brandon Dubinsky is a top-tier pest

And we mean that in the nicest way possible. Columbus was a heavy underdog to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their opening round series in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Dubinsky set the tone for his team by shadowing Penguins star Sidney Crosby all series long, holding him goalless and generally making life miserable for the Hart Trophy winner. For the fans with Blue Jackets tickets, that’s exactly the type of play they wanted to see from their alternate captain.

Ryan Johansen is a star in the making

Johansen led the Blue Jackets with 33 goals last season and is poised to break out in 2014-15, assuming he and the team can agree to terms on a new contract. Johansen is exactly the type of player Columbus would like to build around, being that he’s a homegrown talent with high-end scoring ability. Free agency generally isn’t the way NHL teams build their talent cores, which is why locking up Johansen—a product of their internal scouting—makes sense for the Jackets long-term.

An “Eastern” state of mind

The 2014-15 season will be Columbus’s second as a member of the Eastern Conference, and given that they made the playoffs in their initial foray against Metropolitan Division rivals, there’s no reason to think the Blue Jackets won’t make it back to the dance again this year. The holders of Blue Jackets tickets are no doubt relieved to be out of the Western Conference for good, where the majority of the NHL’s top-flight teams (and stiffest competition) reside.

2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets ticket preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets have raised a certain amount of buzz in NHL circles lately, most of it positive. Whether it’s via the outstanding play of starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky; the blockbuster trade for former New York Rangers players Marian Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov; or the team-branded Twitter account, the hype surrounding the club has increased each season.

Blue Jackets tickets are practically selling themselves at this point.

Night in and night out, the atmosphere at Columbus home games is fantastic. Nationwide Arena seats approximately 18,500 for Blue Jackets games, and is packed on game nights more often than not. Last season’s near playoff push earned the team some additional media attention, which may have contributed to the increase in attendance towards the end of the regular season.

Bobrovsky played his way into the conversation for the Vezina Trophy—awarded to the NHL’s best goaltender—by posting a 9-3-0 record and a 1.75 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage during the month of April.

As far as the team’s offense is concerned, there’s no doubt that the forward lines will need to find the back of the net much more often during the 2013-14 season if the Blue Jackets are going to contend for a postseason berth. The team finished no. 25 in goals scored per game last season, but the additions of Gaborik, Dubinsky and Anisimov should bolster the club’s scoring.

With the price of admission, Columbus Blue Jackets tickets offer the fans not only to a game in which the home team is considered to have better than an outside shot at making the playoffs, but also admission into one of the nicer facilities in the NHL.

Nationwide Arena opened in 2000 and boasts a central downtown location and adjoining practice rink that is sometimes opened to the public for general admission skating sessions.

Since joining the NHL as an expansion team the same year the Nationwide Arena opened, the Blue Jackets have only made one playoff appearance (2009). Considering the recent direction of the franchise, however, the chances of the fans in Columbus being treated to another such postseason series are trending upwards.

Columbus Blue Jackets tickets are the only way to see this up-and-coming team make hay in the Western Conference. Playing in the Central Division along with traditional powers like the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, the Blue Jackets are determined to make their mark. Buy Columbus Blue Jackets tickets online and feel the energy at Nationwide Arena, the franchise’s downtown since its inception in 2000. The Columbus Blue Jackets schedule is an enticing one featuring matchups with the NHL’s top teams, including the Anaheim Ducks, the Red Wings, the Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues, the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks. Columbus Blue Jackets tickets are your chance to see a team that reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2009 for the first time, and is sure to return soon, possibly in 2013. Buy Columbus Blue Jackets tickets online and catch an innovative NHL team that just became the first in history to hire a European general manager. Legendary executive John Davidson took over as president of hockey operations in October, and this was his first significant move. Defenseman Fedor Tyutin, 29, is one of the Blue Jackets’ leaders, along with goalie Steve Mason and dynamic scoring center Mark Letestu. The 28-year-old Letestu is one of the players Columbus is building around, and a big reason why Nationwide Arena is rocking this season. Columbus Blue Jackets tickets are precious because of the traditions that already have sprung up around the franchise. A hand-made replica 1857 Napoleon cannon goes off at home games at Nationwide Arena when the Columbus Blue Jackets take the ice to the roar of the crowd. It is also fired when the Blue Jackets score a goal or clinch another victory. Check the Columbus Blue Jackets schedule now and get your Columbus Blue Jackets tickets for a hockey experience unlike any other. The Blue Jackets are building around youth, and you don’t want to miss their ascension to the top of the NHL. Buy Columbus Blue Jackets tickets online and witness history unfold. This team is on the verge of making a run to the Stanley Cup playoffs and Western Conference finals. Get your Columbus Blue Jackets tickets now.

Columbus Blue Jackets ticket and team info

As one of the NHL's newest teams, the Columbus Blue Jackets are bringing a lot of excitement to Ohio and the Nationwide Arena. Hockey starvation in Ohio has kept fans scrambling for Columbus Blue Jackets tickets since they joined the league in 2000, and this may be the year that they are rewarded with a playoff appearance. The Nationwide Arena is the heart of the entertainment district just north of the Ohio State Capitol. Make sure you check out the restaurants, bars, theaters, and clubs in the Arena District before you check out the team inside the arena.

The Star Superstar center Sergei Fedorov will start off the season with a shoulder injury, but he'll be back on the ice soon and will do his part to make the Blue Jackets a playoff contender. The All-Star Russian won the Stanley Cup three times with the Detroit Red Wings, and was the first European-trained player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL Most Valuable Player in 1993-94. He's also won the Selke and Pearson Trophies, and also played in the All-Star Game five times, most recently in 2003. Don't miss out on your chance to see a true hockey legend take the ice with Columbus Blue Jackets tickets!

The Coach When the Blue Jackets stumbled early last season, critics claimed that it might be head coach Gerard Gallant's last season behind the bench. But Gallant is no slouch, and to the joy of Blue Jackets ticket holders, got his struggling team to play extremely well in the second half of the season, sometimes winning as many six straight games. Can he keep it up this season? Why not! The team is stronger and deeper ever before.

The Team In fact, its that depth that will get the Blue Jackets into the post-season. The addition of Fredrik Modin and his super-hard slap shot at left wing will provide the Jackets the necessary depth on offense to back up the one-two punch of Gilbert Brule and Fedorov. On the blue line, high-draft pick players like Ron Hainsey and Rostislav Klesla will have to prove their worth and continue to develop, but Columbus Blue Jacket ticket holders have faith that they won't let them down. There's really nothing to get in the way of the Jackets in their quest for the playoffs except the weight of their own potential!

Columbus BlueJackets info

Columbus BlueJackets tickets are on the comeback trail. Suffering through the lockout knowing that your team only notched 20 wins in its last full season inspired the Blue Jackets management to undergo a slew of talent gathering. The end result is a Blue Jackets team that is banking on their young players already on the roster to make solid contributions and the influx of new players to cap off a rebuilding campaign that puts the Blue Jacket in contention to win a playoff spot in the Western Conference. So it’s a whole new ball game in Nationwide Arena, and Blue Jackets tickets are awash in a wave of optimism.

Five years after their introduction the NHL, the Blue Jackets are still waiting for their first NHL Playoff berth. After three miserable seasons, the Blue Jacket latched on to the talented Rick Nash with the top pick in the draft. The 18-year-old Nash made an immediate impact on the Blue Jackets by racking up 17 goals and 20 assists in his first season. It’s the first indication that the Jackets may have a legitimate NHL star on their hands. In his second season, Nash solidified his spot as a rising young phenom by tying for the league lead in goals scored with 41. In spite of Nash’s heroics, the Blue Jackets failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and management set out to surround their key man with better talent.

The Blue Jackets added veteran experience with the signing of Jan Hrdina. Hrdina should give Nash and fellow forward Nikolai Zhredev the benefit of his ice savvy and create opportunities for the dynamic pair of youngsters to excel. David Vborny, playing on the right side, gave Columbus 22 goals and 31 assists in 2003-2004 and his presence lends some depth to the front line.

It’s time for the Columbus Bluejackets ticket holders to see their team grow up, throw off the expansion team tag, and compete for a playoff berth. All indications are that the wait is over and Columbus has all the pieces in place to make a run at the Central Division. See it happen for yourself. Grab some Columbus Blue Jacket tickets and head for Nationwide Arena in 2005-2006.